What it is
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

What it is
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

What it is
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

The Sony W600D Series 720p LED TV has poor picture quality. Even if it doesn't have the sharpest picture, sports looks decent and it is okay to play video games. For movies though, it isn't good. The picture leaves to be desired, especially when watched in a dark room. To its merit though, the picture stays good when watched from the side.

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Design

The Sony KDL32W600D doesn't boast a fancy design like the higher end Sony models. The TV has somewhat large borders and its black frame and stand are bulky. This is not to say it looks particularly bad though, it just won't turn heads.

Stand

The stand is bulky and the TV feels very sturdy on it.

Footprint of the 32" TV stand: 22" x 7.5"

Back

Wall Mount
:
Vesa 200x200

The back of the TV is also bulky and not attractive. Some of the connections will be available if the TV is wall mounted.

Watching movies on the Sony KDL-32W600D is bad, particularly in a room with no lights. Dark scenes look washed-out, judder is omnipresent and colors might seems off depending on the scenes. From up-close, the picture is a little soft with some loss in the finer details. HDR is not an option.

Good value:
Full-array/direct lighting is better for local dimming. As for the uniformity of the screen, it depends on the implementation. Some edge-lit TVs have more uniform blacks than some full-array TVs.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity the TV can obtain while playing a movie or while watching a TV show. This scene was selected to represent a more regular movie condition. All measurement are made with the TV set to be as bright as possible, but with a 6500k white. Measured with local dimming, max backlight and over SDR signal. Scene: here.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright highlights, present on screen for a short time; especially for SDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright objects, present on screen for a short time; especially for SDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright highlights, persistent throughout a scene; especially for SDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright objects, persistent throughout a scene; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity the TV can obtain while playing a movie or while watching a TV show. This scene was selected to represent a more realistic movie condition. All measurement are made with the TV set to be as bright as possible, but with a 6500k white. Measured with local dimming, max backlight and over HDR signal. Scene: here.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright highlights, present on screen for a short time; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright objects, present on screen for a short time; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright highlights, persistent throughout a scene; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright objects, persistent throughout a scene; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

The Sony W600D has an 8 bit panel and processing as can be noticed in our gradient test pattern. The anomalies won't be such an issue in regular content except for some banding that can be seen in some scenes.

The above post-calibration pictures are the same as the pre-calibration ones since there is no adjustment settings available.

Update: After the review was done, we were made aware of the white balance setting in the service menu. To access this menu, while the TV is off, press on the remote in this order: 'Display', '5', 'Volume +' and power on.

No retention at all could be notice after the 10 minutes burn-in scene on the Sony W600D IPS TV. This is a very good result for IPS a TV, since it is IPS TVs that tend to be more susceptible to image retention.

Motion

Watching sports is good on the Sony KDL32W600D. There is not much blur added when things are moving fast on the screen such as when players are running or skating. Unfortunately, some screen uniformity issues arise when cameras pan over playing surfaces of uniform colors.

Inputs

Playing video games feels good on the Sony W600D in the way that the TV is really responsive to controller inputs which is good for fast reflexes games. Unfortunately, most PC resolutions aren't supported which doesn't help if one want to use the TV as a PC monitor.

The native resolution of the Sony W600D is 1360 x 768 and as such, the above resolutions aren't supported. To get as sharp as possible when using that TV as a PC monitor, 1360 x 768 has to be used. Even then, this TV isn't well suited to use as a PC monitor.

Sound Quality

There isn't much distortion in the sound but bass is really lacking. Nothing too impressive, but there are worse sounding TVs than the Sony W600D. For a small TV like this that won't probably be complemented by an external sound solution, most won't complain. For those who care more about sound, a sound bar is a good idea.

Note: Sound Quality test for TVs reviewed before 2017 was performed at 75dB, 85dB, and Max SPL. Starting 2017, the target SPL levels have been changed to 70dB, 80dB, and Max dB SPL.

Average frequency response and maximum loudness. The low-end cutoff of 179Hz however, is quite poor, even for a TV. Also, at higher volumes, there will be noticeable compression and pumping artifact present.

Decent distortion performance. The interesting note here is that distortion at 75 is being reported as higher than 85 and Max results. This could be due to the 75dB test being influenced by outside noise. Also, since our scoring system gives more weight to higher frequencies to make it more perceptually relevant, and the W600D doesn't produce a lot of bass, the distortion at 75dB is being reported as higher.

Smart Features

Very limited smart features available on the Sony W600D. It is on the verge of being considered a smart TV but those who doesn't ask more than Netflix will be satisfied. For better smart features, an external device like the Roku would be recommended.

Apps

The apps selection is very limited and missing a few big names. Anyone looking for a better smart experience should either look at a different TV or buy an additional device like a Roku.

The Vizio E 2015 is a better TV for watching movies and able to display a higher resolution which make it look better for most content. It also have better smart features and cost less. Between the two, the Vizio E is a better buy although it loses more of its picture quality when viewed from the side.

The Samsung J6300 has better resolution and picture quality for more varied content including movie. It has a greater value than the Sony W600D but again, loses more of its picture quality when viewed from the side. Still, don't hesitate to buy the Samsung J6300 over the Sony.

Poor TV for mixed usage. Picture quality is bad due to low native contrast ratio and poor uniformity. Supports up to 1360x768 content. Thankfully it handles motion well with little blur, and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle.

What it is
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

What it is
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

Poor choice for watching TV shows in a bright room. Picture quality is bad, but remains accurate when viewed at an angle. Okay at handling reflections in an average room but will have issues in a bright room, compounded by the low peak brightness which can't fight glare.

Decent choice for watching sports. Fast motion is handled well with only a short trail of blur, and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. Gray uniformity is below average so some dirty screen effect is visible.

What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

What it is
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

Bad PC monitor. Resolution is low, and picture quality is poor. The sides of the picture do remain accurate when viewed from up close though, and TV feels responsive due to low input lag and little motion blur.